The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-12-15
SOUTHERN MISSIONARIES.
10" Money Was Sent Them During t.,
the War.

been the "reminiscences of the war that have
been printed in newspapers and magazines,
10 reference has been made to the manner in
winch the missionaries of the south in foreign
iands were cared for during the great strug-
gie he Mcthodlsts BaptiSts and Presby-
teflanS had their missionaries in india, China,
Japan, SIAM and Syria; and when the shadow
OF war decFcncd into uctuality, and it was
seen that the blockadng o. southern ports.
shutting OIL the south from communication
with the rest Of the world, would be accom-
llishcl it was felt that the missions would
lave T. be withdrawn, or arrangement,
made that would provide for steadily and
surely reaching these faithful workers with
funds
me subject rs promptly engaged the attcn-
ton OF northern clergyinen as it did the
cler%Emcn Of the south, and the matter was
quietly placed i'll the hands Of Rev. G. W.
samson, d. d., as the man best fitted by
character, ability and circumstances for the
WORK l)r. Samson was tho most prominent
clergyman OF his denomination at Washing
ION, ana had been brought into the most in
uil''te iriltL"hs WITH prominent southern
statesmen, all of whom. il Yves seen, worlld
bear still more prominent parts il. the FIGHT
DE- samson was tEen president of Columbia
BAPTIST church, in Washington. jefferson
Davis was not Il member of his church. but
lie frequently attended service Howell
COBB, thcn secretary of the treasury under
President buchanan, attended regularly.
such men as Lewis Cas- William l., Marcy
Secretary Guthrie AID Robert L, Lee We're
frequent attendants. Indeed, all the dis
tnSulsheI mcn of that time We're regular or
occasional attendants upon Dr.. Sanson's
administrations This gave him close
acquaintance with them
nc accepted the t,ls!l with the greatest
Willingness. He conferred first with Prcsi-
l"iit lhnroin and found him DESTROYS of hay
liS tho fullest possible arrangements made
whereby the utmost certainty could be cstab-
ISilcd that no break should occur in the send
ing OF supplies of money through the lines to
these missionaries
--rined with his assurance from President
Lincoln, Rev. Dr. Samson immediately pro-
ceetled to Richmond to secure the consent
and approval Of the president Of the Confed
cracy, jefferson Davis. On his way TO tho
Confederate capital, which Davi; had but
just before removed from Montgomery to tho
capital of Virginia. Dr.. S. stopped over at
Petersburg. lie there conferred with a con-
Nenti"n Of Baptist ministers then in session
there, securing their warm approval of tho
project. He then made haste to reach Rich
ninnl
Incre was an air Of confusion about tho
2.;it Of tho Confederate government, as mat
;el,' had not Yet settled down to anvthine like
order. 1t being i'll May, 1851 When Dr., Sam
son entered the apartment where President
DAVIS was seated, tho latter sprang at once to
lis feet ana warmly greeted him. Not know
ln2s the object oil the doctors presence there.
hi.i first impression was that Dr. Samson had
cast MS lot With the south. which thought
was evidently confusing to him. for the doc
tors views as to secession were STRONGLY held
and had bccn rs strongly presented by him.
and be wa known to have been decidedly op-
posed to it.
That NJ. Davis mind was confused bvt
and that he was surprised was evident from
MS first exclamation, which was:
Nv hat, arc You with US. too, Dr. Sa,nson2"
ION, 30, said Dr. S, Il am still for the old
,ag"
WI nat, then, brings you here" said Mr..
Davis
nave come to make arrangements so
tAaI, 40 matter what happens, the mission
ares The south las in the field shall not suffer
Tor ia"l, OF finds. We want to provide Mr.
irrsidrnt, that g way shall be opened through
ltc lines 1NI' the Transmission of funds for
tlor support, President Lincoln has ex-
pressed has willingness to go to the utmost
possible length in tho matter, and it only
needs assurance from you to the same effect"
't'od bless you, DR.. Samson. 1t shall be
as Yea WISH" said President Davis with
emotion.
Arrangements were at once perfected
whereby means of communication were to DO
provided throughout the struggle. however
long or bitter ii might BE- The general on
the Union side, who had held the closest Dcr-
&pnal relations it'll i'cn Lee, was Mai Gen.
l'atrlck, and he entire charge of the matter
vas committed 10 his keeping He was
peculiarly tittel for il, beng :; Christian
Gentleman as Wei as a gallant soldier 1t is
but a fitting tribute to his faithfulncss and
ahiilty to state that no hitch ever occurred
III the arrangements from first to last The
southern religious bodies were communicated
With and notified that they could remit to
their missionaries. in whatever field stationed
through Maj. Con. Patrick They were also
instructed to notify the missionaries to send
.hcir letters to DR., Samson at Washington,
who would forward them through the lines
II the south.
Some fc" oil the southern churches sent
their money through the blockading fleet,
running the risk Of capture. But the great
bulk of the work was carried through the
channel thus opened by the personal Unfit
cncc of DIR, Samson cXcrted upon Presidents
Lincoln and Davis. The former was SO
warmly enlisted that later on in the war,
when it was seen that money was becoming
scarce i'll the south and it was feared the
churches might not be able to keep up the
stream Of supply, President Lincoln made up
his mind to allow cotton to be sent through
the lines to he sold to defray the missionaries
expenses. But the ended shortly after
and this was not necessary.
During the whole war the letters came and
went, nobody violating their sanctity. Some
of the missionaries came home and when
they landed in New York they Immediately
made their way to Washington, where they
found Rev DIR. Samson He at once took
them to Maj Gen. Patrick and they were
passed through tho lines without the slight
est hitch
Rev. DR.. Samson was last summer made
president Of Rutgers Female college in New
York city He is an erudite scholar, being
specially convcrsant with Hebrew and Ara
bic, and has for some time given private
lessons to several classes of Christian workers
engaged in city missionary work. In the
presidency Of Rutgers he succeeds Rev. DR..
Burchard, who acquired notoriety in the last